Tag Archives: CMA Fest

The Ladies of Country kicked off the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage Friday Night of CMA Fest at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater with powerful performances by Sara Evans, Kellie Pickler, Danielle Bradbery, Aubrie Sellers and Three Girls Rock into a Bar featuring Kelleigh Bannen, Ruthie Collins and Natalie Stovall.

Images by: FlyteVu

We finally had the chance to see Three Girls Rock Into A Bar, a powerhouse trio composed of Kelleigh Bannen, Natalie Stovall and Ruthie Collins. Although, all the girls are solo artists, they come together to perform occasionally and have been selling out venues wherever they go!

The Ascend Amphitheater was packed as the ladies performed for a special women of country night! Check out our photo gallery below!

Meet Drew Baldridge! You may have seen him on the road as he has been opening up for a number of artists and was recently a part of SiriusXM The Highway Finds Tour! The Highway is a great way to hear up and coming artists and new music that’s not currently in the top 40. Quite frankly, hearing the same songs every hour gets a little repetitive and it’s refreshing to hear some other great artists on the radio!

We got to speak with Baldridge while he was in town for CMA Fest and we spoke about his last single “Rebound” which has a different perspective than most of us are used to hearing coming from a male. It’s all about how the male doesn’t want to just be a rebound for this woman who just got out of a bad relationship and sticking up for himself. It’s just a very interesting perspective and makes Baldridge a little vulnerable which is what makes it great.

Baldridge is also performing at Route 91 Harvest this year on Friday, September 29 at 4:20 on the ‘Next From Nashville’ stage!

Watch our interview with Drew Baldridge!

We were also able to have some fun and ask some not so typical questions with Baldridge like “Would you delete a tweet if it didn’t get any favorites” and what would he name his boat if he had one! Watch below!

(Nashville, Tenn. – June 23, 2017) – Noah Guthrie, known for portraying Roderick Meeks on Fox’s hit TV show Glee, released his sophomore album, The Valley, today through The Orchard – Sony Music to all digital outlets globally as well as physically in North America and the U.K. The creation of The Valley was purely a “passion project” and, in turn, a direct result of Guthrie’s feverish fans and social media following who contributed more than the desired funding in order to bring this project into existence through Pledge Music.

Art Credit: Matthew Fleming

Braving and unearthing every emotion, from solitude and loneliness to understanding and purpose, that is encumbered in “the valley,” Guthrie wrote or co-wrote every track on the record with songwriters such as Matthew Perryman Jones, Amy Stroup, Rhett Shull, Michelle Raitzin, and Caroline Brooks. Recording music together their whole lives, Guthrie recruited his brother, Ian Guthrie, to serve alongside him as the producer of the record, confessing,

“We are big believers that a song should be able to stand on its own—the simpler the arrangement, the better. I remember us staying up late into the night trying to sculpt and shape songs, adding melodies and instruments that didn’t quite fit to make the sound more interesting, almost always reverting back to what we had

before The simple takes were the ones that let the raw feeling of the song shine through the most. That’s what I hope you find in this record: Strong, compelling songs that make you feel something.”

Leading up to the album’s street date, Guthrie released three singles to accompany the record: “Pardon Me” in 2016, “Love You Now” in February 2017, and “I Would Die 4 U” in April 2017. Guthrie chose to cover Prince’s iconic dance track, “I Would Die 4 U” as a tribute to the late legend and the first anniversary of his death. Guthrie even went on to perform his rendition of the track on Hallmark’s Home and Family alongside guest Mayte Garcia, Prince’s ex-wife. Since the release of his newest single, “Love You Now,” in February 2017, Guthrie has been touring the United States and Europe in support of his sophomore album, and will be returning abroad to tour throughout Europe again this coming August 2017.

Making the most of CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn., June 8-11, Guthrie met with fans and signed autographs at Fan Fair X, performed at Ty Herndon’s Concert for Love and Acceptance, and delivered a jaw-dropping acoustic performance at the Wildhorse Saloon, including in the set his most acclaimed cover of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It.” About Noah Guthrie: Noah Guthrie rose to fame covering chart-topping hits on YouTube that eventually led to his pivotal role as Roderick Meeks on FOX’s hit TV show Glee on it’s sixth and final season. He received national attention with his blues-filled version of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” which to date has received over 25- million views, with total YouTube views racking up over 75 million.

Photos by Variety Beat

The South Carolina native grew up in a home filled with music, always singing around the house, Guthrie credits his father for teaching him to learn his true voice and hone his gift. At 14, he began writing his own songs, highlighting his richly textured voice that is capable of conveying the true emotion of a lyric. As a practiced musician on the bass, guitar, and trumpet, by the time he was 13 years old, everyone around him knew that he had an innate gift. Throughout his young career, Guthrie has already opened concerts for Ed Sheeran, Neon Trees, Ben Rector, Cobra Starship, Matisyahu, Matt Nathanson and Selena Gomez, and has performed on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars as well as NBC’sToday and Tonight Show.

Beloved Country Duo, Thompson Square put on their 2nd annual fan club party during CMA Fest 2017! This year, it took us to Pinewood social where brunch and bowling was provided! Husband and Wife, Shawna and Keifer spent the entire time mingling with fans, taking pictures, signing autographs, bowling and performing new music!

It’s been a few years since a new album from Thompson Square, and they promise they are working on their best music yet! We got a taste of what’s to come with a song called “Make It Rain.” Take a listen below!

THOMPSON SQUARE PERFORMS “MAKE IT RAIN”

It was a great morning spending time with two of Country Music’s humblest and kindest artists! They are excited to do it again next year! Take a look at the photo gallery below and check out all the videos of their performances!

We were lucky enough to attend CMA Fest again this year and catch one of CMT’s Next Women of Country: Lindsay Ell! She’s one of Variety Beat’s favorite artists and is currently making waves with her latest single “Waiting on You” while opening for the like of Brad Paisley who has been a huge champion of the artist and guitar slayer!

Take a look at a clip of her song “Criminal” she wrote about her boyfriend Bobby Bones and check out our photo gallery below!